Questions tagged [version-control]

This tag should be used for questions about version control in writing, such as how to use version control systems to document the changes of a bigger writing project.

This tag should be used for questions about version control in writing, such as how to use version control systems to document the changes of a bigger writing project. You can for example ask about that can help you in your writing or how to utilize the information from your version control system to your advantage. Documentation that deals with describing version control systems is also on-topic.

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Do You Use Any Version Controlling Software/Methods As Writers?

As writers, do you use any version controlling software to track and monitor what you write? For example, if you accidentally deleted or overwritten a paragraph that you'd like to have it back? Usually what I do is to save multiple copies with…
JFW
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How should a writer use version control to track drafts, rewrites, and revisions?

I'm a writer, not a programmer. I'm just now for the first time learning about version control and how it works, and I am wondering how version control could streamline my workflow. In a previous question, I asked what version control system to use,…
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What's the best version control system for a book writer?

I'm a writer—no programming, only prose in text files, mostly in Emacs org-mode, some in markdown-mode. I want to implement a version control system for my writing projects. I work with two types of text files: drafts (textfile-v1.org,…
incandescentman
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What is the purpose of version control?

Just that: What do you need version control for? I've never had the feeling I needed to undo any changes in my (fiction or academic) writing. So what is version control good for? How do you write that you need it? (I am not asking about backups,…
user5645
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Git plugins for MS Word?

Is anyone aware of a plugin for MS Word that allows me to keep my documents in a git repository (gitlab compatibility would be even better)? I'm aware that git diffs won't be very meaningful, merges are impractical, etc. with binary file formats;…
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What software can I use to synchronize corrections and modifications over similar documents?

I'm currently working on a large thesis, from which I derive some smaller publications such as papers. The work is in parallel. Often it happens that I copy some paragraphs from the thesis into a paper. Then I work on the paper, rewriting and…
Michael
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Linking documentation to Git commit comments

Using git to track modifications to the project allows contributors to include comments with each commit. If the project's guidelines, and managers' control, keeps those comments limited to a format useful for inclusion in the projects documentation…
user25452
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Best Tool to Create User Guides

We are planning to create a user guide for internal use only. It's 150-page document in Word for a self-developed SW tool. The user guide will require constant update. No translation is needed. We would like to have - an easy-to-use interface for…
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Does using version control system make backups unnecessary?

Suppose I use Git, Subversion or any other version control system for managing my writing. So my texts are preserved together with change history and if I accidentally delete something I can use history to restore it. Does this mean I no longer need…
sharptooth
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LaTex + version control writing package

This should be probably cross-posted to tex.stackexchange.com. However, since my question is more oriented towards writers who also have a firm grasp of technology, I'm posting it here in hopes of getting a better answer. (I hope the collaboration…
Drache
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Is Mac OSX Lion's Revision Control System useable by writers?

The upcoming Mac OSX Lion operating system is touting a new file revision control system called Versions (demo video here). What I'm using for version control right now is rather rudimentary - I either copy and paste the files and number them to…
JFW
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Is there a place to publish my stories to share it?

First I did google for 4 hours before making this question but I did not found what I was looking for. Secondly probably there is a question similar that I couldn't found. I am programmer that usually makes code to share it on github, a platform…
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How to create a useful diff of a markdown writing project iteration

I wrote a play that I performed this summer, and have done significant re-writes for an upcoming second performance run. In order to help me relearn my lines, I think it would be useful to see which were changed/removed/added all together, rather…
Damon
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What websites or programs offer strong revision tools?

I'm wondering if there are any pieces of software that keep copies of revisions made on a document. So say I delete 500 words out of a document and save it. Is there a program that would realize I have changed the document and would back up the old…
William C.
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Managing Document Versions for Multiple Tenses

I need to create two versions of a document, one in future tense and one in past tense: Document A: The consultant will do X. Document B: The consultant did X. In the past, I've handled this by writing document A, then editing a copy into document…
SArcher
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